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Dalton Dishes on Dev Camp

by
Staff Writer
/ Boston Bruins

Wilmington, MA – Fresh off a record-setting season with the Reading Royals of the ECHL, Boston Bruins goaltender Matt Dalton is getting another shot at the big show this week as the Boston Bruins hold their fourth annual Development Camp at Ristuccia Memorial Arena.

During his time with the Royals, Dalton appeared in 46 regular season games, including 21 consecutive starts, a franchise record. Dalton also recorded Reading Reading records in minutes played with 3,690, and saves with 2,034.

Dalton

“It was a great learning experience for me for my first year,” said Dalton. “I played a lot of games and got a lot of shots.

"I played a lot and to get better you have to be playing."

Dalton finished the ECHL regular season with 22 wins, 20 losses and 4 ties while registering one shutout. He also compiled a .906 save percentage and 3.47 goals against average.

The 24-year-old goalie had an impressive post-season run with the Royals, notching 10 playoff wins, including eight straight, a 3.02 goals against average and a .914 save percentage while making 510 saves in just 16 games.

“You just get in those kinds of grooves and you see the puck well," he said. "It’s nice when those stretches happen and it happened at the right time.”

Dalton also enjoyed a brief stint with Boston’s AHL club, the Providence Bruins, towards the end of the season, appearing in six games and even practiced with the Boston Bruins for a stretch.

“It was a good experience just to get a taste of it and see the difference and get your feet wet,” said Dalton.

With his Royals going so deep into the playoffs, Dalton didn’t have much time off, as training for the new season is already starting to pick up. He admitted that it can be hard to shake off the rest after being away from the game, but says the key is to stay relaxed while the process happens.

“I’ve been of the ice for maybe two months, maybe. I had to take a little bit of time off after the season too.

“You just got to have fun. It’s a summer camp and [I] just have fun with it and try to enjoy it.

“For me, if I'm having fun I'm going to play well so that’s what I try to tell them.”

Coming into his second Bruins development camp, Dalton has embraced his role as a veteran camper and looks to gain valuable experience from this week.

“For sure, for sure," he said with a smile. "I know what it’s like being here for the first time. I'm a little bit older too, and I realize how it works and how the game works.

“When you’re older you have to be stronger; you have to be better every year.

“Every day I’m coming here to learn a lot so I'm expecting to have a good year," he said.

And as to whether or not he expects to take a shot at starting with the big club…

“I hope so, that’s why I signed here," said the goalie. “I'm so close, but so far at away at the same time.